Device for retrieving objects



May 10, 1960 l. J. GRUENBERG 2,935,750

DEVICE FOR RETRIEVING OBJECTS Filed April 1, 1957 30 33 FIG.3.

26 2s 1 u 1 2|: 5 24 n x INVENTOR.

IVOR JGRUENBERG TTORNEYS li'oldthe valve to the casing. Upon completion of'this simple assembly procedure, an excess length of the but ton 18 (which may be gripped by pliers to pull the valve into place, this excess beingshown in dotted line and designated 20) is snipped oif.

q The reference numeral 21 designates a container filled or partially filled with a chemical inflating agent, as hereinafter referred to; and in accordance with the invention the valve 16 providesa holder for this container. To this end, the valve is molded to provide an axially extending annular wall 22 at its center, which wall defines a well in which the container 21, shown as a cylindrical tube, is inserted and elastically gripped.

It is to be noted that, with the device 10 applied to the 7 rod in the mannershown in Fig. 4, it will descend gravitationally in the upright position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Thus, in positioning the intake ports 13 in the bottom end wall 12, a velocity head is exerted on valve 16 to assist hydrostatic pressure in uncovering the ports 13. This action is complemented by an aspirative action at the opposite end of the device, as will be described.

I The container 21 is firmly supported by the valve well 22 in a lower inflating chamber 24 within the casing 11. Container 21 is, in accordance with the invention, fabricated of a liquid-disintegrable material, for example, such as a thin cellulosic tissue, as cigarette paper, or a water Pteferably in substantialaxial spacing from the intake ports 13, the container 21 is provided with a plurality of orifices 25 for the direct admission of liquid to activate the chemical.

Thus, the'disintegrable or liquid soluble container 21 will. delay the chemical interaction with liquid entering, the inflating chamber 24 until it has reached the apersectioned to conform with the internal wall of casing 11, and has a closed lower end wall 28 closely adjacent the chemical container.

- It is thus seen that the bag 26 in its normal, uninflated condition, and being reversably orientated in reference to the container 21 and inflating chamber 24, occupies a substantial portion of that chamber, to the exclusion of air which would otherwise be present. This minimizes the volume of such air which needs to be compressed prior to generation of gas, thereby assisting the hydrostatic-velocity head pressure actuation of the valve 16 and the admission of copious water to chamber 24.

Outwardly of the thickened and sealed end 27 of bag 26, the casing is releasably closed by a suitable domed cap 29, frictionally held to the casing and ejected therefrom upon inflation of bag 26. In accordance with the invention, and as in my patent identified above, the cap 2Sl has at its axial center a small opening 30 which is of capillary size of bore, i.e., sufiiciently small to prevent entry of liquid to the space 31 within the cap, due to capillarity, but enabling the expulsion of air from the space 31 and the space within the inverted bag 26 communicating therewith.

The capillary opening 30 is an important factor in the operation of the device, as pointed out in my previous application, equalizing air pressures on opposite sides of the bag 26 under all atmospheric conditions and permit- .ting free and unresisted expulsion. of air from space 31 as the bag collapses upwardly. However, in accordance with the invention this expulsion is further assisted by the provision of an annular external wall 32 on the axial upper nose of the cap, providing a recess or well 33 to create an area of lower pressure surrounding the capillary opening 30.

.t-ures 25. This insures the admission of an excess quantity of water, preferably over and above the quantity required for complete activation of the contained chemical. As activation commences and continues, the material of container 21 will disintegrate suflieiently or dissolve to continue the gas-evolving reaction at a rapid rate.

.Insurance is had that the desired excess of liquid is admitted, without a premature reaction such as might generate only a slight quantity of gas, but suflicient to produce enough pressure in chamber 24 to re-close valve 16, or to at best occasion a hunting or fluttering effect line buoyant position of Fig. 1 by the generated gas, as

will be understood.

In its normal collapsed position bag or envelope 26 extends a substantial axial distance from the open end 27 toward the container 21, being sectionally cross- Thus asthe device 10 descends, in the upright orien- "tation of'Fig. 1, the wall 32 causes an aspirative suction effect in the recess 33, thus promoting outward flow of air through the opening 30. The combined velocity action at the valve intake ports 13 and aspirative action at the recess 33 are highly effective in promoting a copious filling of inflating chamber 24 with water, once a predetermined hydrostatic pressure is'in efiect; and the quick and copious entry of the liquid to the chamber 24 is of essential importance in the operation of the improved device.

It will be recognized that quick and ample filling is promoted also by the inversion of the bag 26 to occupy space otherwise occupied by air to be compressed, as

well as by the employment of a disintegrable or soluble delay action container 21 for the chemical gasifying agent. These features function to prevent premature closure of valve 16. I

An alternative form of the device is shown in Fig. 3, being generally designated"35.' It is identical with the embodiment of Figs. land 2' in all respects save its valving provisions. Accordingly, corresponding parts common to the two forms are designated by corresponding reference numerals and further description thereof will be dispensed with.

As illustrated in Fig.3, a valve 36 of rubber or resilient plastic or like flexible material is formed in a generally cupped-shaped cross-section, and is telescopingly inserted into the bottom of the casing, its bottom base wall 37 abutting the bottom end wall 12 of the casing, which is in this case simply apertured centrally at 38 to facilitate the insertion of the valve by bleeding air.

The casing 11v is, in the form of Fig. 3, provided with an annular series of liquid entry ports 39, which are nor- "predetermined hydrostatic pressure, assisted in some degree by a velocity pressure head as described above, to

admit liquid to the inflating chamber 24.

Cup valve 36 is provided with an integral upstanding annular wall 42 surrounding its axis in the interior thereof, and this wall elastically embraces the container 21 for the chemical inflating agent, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1,

The arrangement of parts on the device3 5 is such that they have an integrated action as inthe first'form, to the end of compacting the over-all structure by insuring a copious generation of gas in a relatively small confining space; this, in turn, being accomplished by delaying the chemical gasification process until an adequate liquid has been received to insure'its' completion and by thereafter insuring minimum opposition to be exerted against the inflationary pressureso generated. In this way, resistance to the inflowing water at the predetermined hydrostatic pressure is WhatI claim as my invention is:

1-. A device for retrieving liquid-immersed articles comprising a casing attachable to the article and provided with valve means responsive to predetermined external hydrostatic pressure to admit liquid to the interior of the casing, an elongated open-ended bag sealed at its open end zone to the casing and extending a substantial distance axially inwardly from said zone toward a closed end thereof, said bag occupying a substantial portion of the interior volume of said casing and subdividing the same into an inflating chamber communicable with said exterior by said valve means and an outer space of substantial volume located radially inwardly of said sealed zone and extending substantially therefrom in an axial direction, said casing having an aperture of capillary size of bore opening to said outer space, and expanding means in said inflating chamber actuated by liquid admitted by said valve means to axially reverse said bag and inflate the latter.

2. A device for retrieving liquid-immersed articles com prising a casing attachable to the article and provided with valve means responsive to predetermined external hydrostatic pressure to admit liquid to the interior of the casing, an elongated open-ended bag sealed at its open end zone to the casing and extending a substantial distance axially inwardly from said zone toward a closed end thereof, said bag occupying a substantial portion of the interior volume of said casing and subdividing the same into an inflating chamber communicable with said exterior by said valve means and an outer space of substantial volume located radially inwardly of said sealed zone and extending substantially therefrom in an axial direction, said casing having an aperture of capillary size of bore opening to said outer space, and expanding means in said inflating chamber actuated by liquid admit-ted by said valve means to axially reverse said bag and inflate the latter, said casing including a cap releasably applied to the axial end thereof remote from said inflating chamber and closing said outer space, in which cap said aperture is formed.

3. A device for retrieving liquid-immersed articles comprising a casing attachable to the article and provided with valve means responsive to predetermined external hydrostatic pressure to admit liquid to the interior of the casing, an elongated open-ended bag sealed at its open end zone to the casing and extending a substantial distance axially inwardly from said zone toward a closed end thereof, said casing having an inflating chamber in said interior-thereof and an aperture of capillary size of bore opening to an outer space therein on the side of said bag opposite said inflating chamber and sealed from the latter at said zone, and expanding means in said in flating chamber actuated by liquid admitted by said valve means to axially reverse said bag and inflate the latter, said casing including a cap releasably applied to the axial end thereof remote from said inflating chamber and closing said outer space, in which cap said aperture is formed, said cap having an end recess surrounding said aperture. a

'6 4. A device forretrievingliquid-immers'ed articles comprising an elongated axially'extending casing attachable to the article and provided with a one-way valve respon-. sive to predetermined external hydrostatic pressure to admit liquid to a portion of the casing interior, an in-. flatable bag dividing said first portion from the remaining portion of said interior, said bag having sealed engagement at an open end thereof with the casing adjae cent an axial end of said remaining portion to separate said portions and extending toward a closed end located well within said first portion and a substantial'distance from said open end, said casing being provided with a valve port controlled by said valve, which portopens to said first interior portion in an axial end zone' of the device subject to a liquid velocity head in the gravity descent of the device, said casing having an aperture of capillary size of bore opening to said remaining interior portion at an opposite axial end of the device,rand ex- 'panding means in said first interior portion adapted to be actuated by liquid admitted by said valve to collapse said bag. v "5. A device for retrieving liquid immersed articles comprising a casing attachable to the article and provided with a one-way valve responsive to predetermined external hydrostatic pressure to admit liquid to a portion of the casing interior, an elongated inflatable bag normally occupying a substantial further portion of said interior and displacing a substantial volume of air therein, said bag having sealed engagement at an open end thereof with the casing to subdivide said portions and extending toward a closed end a substantial distance from its seal, said casing being provided with a valve port controlled by said valve, which port opens to said first interior portion in an end zone of the device subject to a liquid velocity head in the gravity descent of the device, said casing having an aperture of capillary size of bore opening to said further interior portion at an opposite end of the devices, and expanding means in said first interior portion adapted to be actuated by liquid admitted by said valve to reverse and collapse said bag.

6. A device for retrieving liquid immersed articles comprising a casing attachable to the article and provided with a one-way valve responsive to predetermined external hydrostatic pressure to admit liquid to a portion of the casing interior, an inflatable bag dividing said first portion from a further portion of said interior, said bag having sealed engagement at an open end thereof with the casing to subdivide said portions and extending toward a closed end a substantial distance from its seal, said casing being provided with a valve port controlled by said valve, which port opens to said first interior portion in an end zone of the device subject to a liquid velocity head in the gravity descent of the device, said casing having an aperture of capillary size of bore opening to said further interior portion at an opposite end of the device, and expanding means in said first interior portion adapted to be actuated by liquid admitted by said valve to collapse said bag, said casing being provided with a recess at said last named end thereof surrounding said aperture to occasion an aspirative eifect thereon in the descent of the device.

7. A device for retrieving liquid immersed articles comprising a casing attachable to the article and provided with a one-way valve responsive to predetermined external hydrostatic pressure to admit liquid to a portion of the casing interior, an elongated inflatable bag normally occupying a substantial further portion of said interior and displacing a substantial volume of air therein, said bag having sealed engagement at an open end thereof with the casing to subdivide said portions and extending toward a closed end a substantial distance from its seal, said casing being provided'with a valve port controlled'by said valve, which port opens to said first interior portion in an end zone of the device subject to a liquid velocity head in' the gravity descent of the device,

said having an apertureof capillafy size ofbore opening to said further interior portion at anopposite end of the device; and expanding meansin said first interior portion adapted to be actuated by liquid admitted bysaid valve to reverse and inflate said bag, said casing being provided with a recess at said last named end there of surrounding said aperture to occasion an aspirative eifect thereon in the descent of the device.

8. A device for retrieving liquid immersed articles comprising. a casing attachable to the article and provided with a one-way valve responsive to predetermined exi ternal hydrostatic pressure to admit liquid to a portion of the casing interior, an inflatable bag dividing saidvfirst portion from a further portion of said interior, said bag having sealed engagement at an open end thereof with the casing to subdivide said portions and extending toward a closed end a substantial distance from its seal, said casing being provided with a valve port controlled by said valve, which p'ort opens to said first interior portion in an end zone of the devicesubject to a liquid velocity head in the gravity descent of the device, said casing having an aperture of capillary size of bore opening to said further interior portion at an opposite end of the device, and expanding means said first interior portion adapted to be actuatedby liquid admitted by said valve toinflate said bag-, said casingbeing provided with a cap at said last named end thereof releasably closing said' further portion; said cap' havinga recess surrounding said aperture to dccasion an aspirative efiect thereon in the descent of the device.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8, in which said expanding means is a substance aotivatable by liquid to produce an inflating gas, said substance being enclosed by a protective member subject to delayed penetration'by the liquid.

References Cited in the: file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,449,540 Albin Sept. 21, 1948 2,642,693 Broady June 23, 1953 I FOREIGN PATENTS 13,859 Great Britain June 16, 1906 

